Handkerchief ironing machine



March 13, 1951 E. E. FOSTER 2,544,662

HANDKERCHIEF IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1945 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 53:4 CZWL'7L E. 5655) 7 Wmm March 13, 1951 E. E. FOSTER HANDKEERCHIEF IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllll I mam,

fall/v1.92 if sfer March 13, 1951 E. E. FOSTER 2,544,662

HANDKERCHIEF IRONING MACHINE.

Filed Aug. 24, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 16 :9 Kil s Fez V VL 77 Adz 6r March 13, 1951 E. E. FOSTER 2,544,662

HANDKERCHIEF IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1943 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 13, 1951 r FOSTER 2,544,662

HANDKERCHIEF IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1943 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IHIH Li .5. 40 3mm, jg fin L77 5.552321 March 13, 1951 E. E, FOSTER HANDKERCHIEE IRONING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Aug. 24, 1943 I l '1 A II I Edwin 5562 8! March 13, 1951 E. E. FOSTER HANDKERCHIEF IRONING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDKERCHIEF IRONING MACHINE Edwin -E. Foster, Austin, Tex.

Application August 24, 1943, Serial N0. 499,844 14 Claims. (Cl. 38-22) This invention. relates to ahandkerchief and the like ironing machine of the type havingmov able bed members and a stationary-head member with a: mechanical means for. applying; ironing pressure.

It is an object of the inventionto provide a handkerchief machine having two movable bed members and on stationary head member in which the total floor spaceoccupied by the machine is aboutv one-fourth that occupied by the ordinary turntable type of handkerchief machine. A-.further object-isto provide means to shift/the bed members from the loading position tothe pressing position against the stationary head member- Another object of theinvention is to provide a completely: enclosed machine with all moving parts protected'against possible contact with the operator, thereby eliminating: the possibility of accidents, due to exposed moving parts, such as are present. in the turntable type of machines.

In the ironing machine of th invention, anironing pressure. of abut 2000'pounds or more is: provided without the use of outside power other than a small amount ofpower which is replaced by the operator uponeach-ironing operation to thus take care of frictional'losses. The pressure applying mechanism follows the principle of a: bouncing ball in which the ball is held atthe 1 bottom of th bounce and later-released with an additional boost. The travel of the ball through its up and down stroke is geared to operating links which shift'the movable bed members.

Itis thus a stillfurther object of the invention: to provide an ironing machine with a force apply in'g means by' what is termed the bouncing ball principle in which the operating functions ofthe machine arecarried out at approximately the points where the ballreverses its travel orpath of movement.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevationof the machine,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthermachine with the cover removed showing one bed member in the ironing position and the other in :the loading position,

Fig. 3 is a view similar. to Fig. 2 with the partsin another position,

Fig. 4 is a front elevation. with the, cover-sin.

section showing the parts inthe-positioncorre sponding to Fig. 2;

Fig. 5-is a front elevation with the sidecoversin section showing the parts'in the position cor-. responding to Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 isa perspective view of one of the bed.

members,

Fig. '7 is a perspective View of a part of the frame and head member.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing a half-way position of the parts from the position of Fig. 3 to Fig; 2;

Fig. 9 is a viewsimilar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing a half-way-position of the parts from the positionv of Fig. 2 to Fig. 3, and- Fig. 10 is a sectionalview of the details of a bed member and a latchmember taken on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 2.

The handkerchief ironing machine is provided with a rectangular base frame and two side frame members 4|. k Suitable covers or closure panels 43': are provided to protect the, various parts of the mechanism.

The head member 3, which is suitably heated, issecurely mounted'inthe frame members 4| at the top-and back of the machine. Two movable bed members I and 2 areprovided for the machine each having a rectangular shape'with a pair of oppositely directed pins 35 and a square block or bearing 26 on the end of each pin. A pair-of thumb buttons or levers: 4 and 5', one on 'each side of the machine, are pivotally mounted at at thefront side of the machine and each of which is connected to a rod 44 whichare inturn connected to a small bell crank lever B. This bell-crank lever 6' functions as a safety latch for a foot pedal 1 pivoted at 8- and connected to a three-armed lever 9. One arm 45 of the lever-9 has a latch member ll pivoted thereto'at I5 and having a roller [3' and an arm 56. A tension spring 4! is secured. at onev end to the arm 4% and the other end to the frame of the machine. The latch H has a hook portion 48 which cooperatesand grips a roller It secured to a weight IT'of any suitable shape and weight but is shown as a cylinder. A resilient restraining member l2 connected at one end to the lever 9 and the other end to the latch H maintains the latter in position to receive the roller I6.

Theweight I'l is secured to-one end of a tapered Each arm 21v is -provided with a latch finger:

The other end or eachlink 2a is 50 pivotally mounted at 5| and held in position by a cantilever spring 52 which is fixed at one end 53 to the arm 2I and the other or free end rides between two guide pins 54 on the latch 59. The spring 52 functions to maintain the finger 50 in line to grip the successive bed members I and 2.

Another pair of levers .23 are pinned or secured on the shaft I8 and to each of these levers a link 24 is pivotally mounted at one end thereof, the other end of each link 25 being pivotally secured to an arm or lug 55 secured to or forming a part of a lifting arm 25, Fig. 4. Each lifting arm 25 is provided with a semi-circular portion 56, the purpose of which will be explained when describing the operation of the machine.

Each bed member I, 2, Fig. 6, is composed of a base plate 51 of metal or other suitable material with a pad or cover 58 on which the handkerchiefs to be ironed are placed. The pair of pins 35 are secured at opposite axial points on the base plate 51 and each pin is provided with the square guide block 26. Each block 26 slides in a guide track 27 provided in the frame 41.

A post 59 is secured to the frame on the base thereof. A wedge member 28 is supported on one end of a lever 32 pivoted at 33 to the front plate 69 of the machine, Fig. 2. The wedge member 28 is adjacent the post 59 and has a friction lining 29 which slides on a surface 30 on the post 59. The wedge 28 is vertically movable by the lever 32 by means of a bolt GI. The wedge 28 is lifted by means of a roller 3I suitably mounted on the shaft I8 which contacts the lever 32. As shown in Fig. 3 the roller 3I contacts the lever 32 and lifts the latter which causes the wedge 28 to rise relative to the guide post 59 and. surface 30.

The post59is suitablymade integralwith a plate I4 which acts as a base member on which the roller I3 may contact.

The roller 3! may be secured or mounted on the shaft I8 in any desired manner such as lugs or other elements.

A third arm 62 of the bell crank lever 9 contacts and cooperates with the wedge 28 by means of a roller I5 as will be explained in the operation of the machine.

A latch 34 is provided on each side of the machine to prevent the bed member I when it has just been moved into its longitudinal position from rebounding when the arm 25 is moved from engagement therewith.

The front plate or cover 59 is provided with a section 36 which is hinged at 31 and provided with a spring 38. This is a safety device to prevent the operators hand from being injured in case it should be accidentally in the path of a returning bed member. A bar or bumper member 39 may be provided as a stop for the lifting arm 25.

The machine operates as follows:

The operator spreads the handkerchief upon the horizontal bed member I, Fig. 2, while the vertical bed member 2 is pressing, or ironing a second handkerchief against the vertical head member 3. In order to change the relative positions of the bed members I and 2, the operator presses down on the thumb buttons 4 and 5, which actuates the levers 6 and then steps lightly on the toe-pedal I. When both buttons 5 and 5 are pushed, which are so interconnected that both must be pushed, rod 44 lifts up to rotate bell crank lever B, Fig. 2, counterclockwise to remove it from under a roller secured on the pedal I. As

the pedal I moves downward, pivoting counterclockwise about the point 8, the lever 9 pivots clockwise about the pivot point it, causing the latch member II to further load the tapered leaf spring I2 by forcing or pulling the weight l'I slightly downward. Near the lower end of the pedal stroke, the roller I3 on the lower end of the latch II contacts the plate I4, which moves the lever I'i clockwise about the pivot-point I5 on the lever 9, thereby releasing the latch member II from the roller I6, which is attached to the weight I'I. As the latch Ii is released the weight I'I leaps upward due to the stored-up energy in the spring 52 and rotates the shaft It with it. As the ball reaches its extreme upward position, the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 3. As the ball I! leaps upward and re I turns, the arms 25 reach down and lift the bed member 2 to the new position. The bed member I stops against the vertical head member and the ironing pressure is applied through a mechanical advantage and the momentum in the ball IT is absorbed in the spring :2 as the latch II catches the ball H at the extreme lower position of the bounce. Immediately after the ball I1 is released and the leaf spring I2 kicks it upward, the pressure against the arm 2! is released from the vertical bed member 2 and this bed member falls downward guided by the square blocks 25 in the slot 2'1. By the time the block 26 reaches the lower end of the slot 21, the arms 25 are in place to absorb the kinetic energy of the falling weight of the bed member. This energy is temporarily stored in the weight I1 and spring I2, to be used later in lifting the bed member to the horizontal position. The mechanism II used for grabbing the weight IT at the extreme lower limit of its travel is, in effect, an over-running clutch latch iI, its purpose being to engage the latch and move therewith without absorbing any of the energy in the weight and lock the weight in its extreme position thereby holding all the energy in the spring I2 for future use. In order to replace the mechanical and air friction losses, the pedal I is provided to operate lever 9 for further compressing the spring I2 before releasing the latch II, as previously described. An overrunning clutch latch is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,476,363 issued July 19, 1949.

Fig. 8 shows the movable bed members at the time they are in a half-way position, going from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2. The arm 25 is provided with a recessed portion 56 to receive the round neck extending between the square block 26 and the bed member 2 itself. This recessed portion makes the square block follow the inside track of the curved guide tracks. When the arm 2i lowers to the position shown in Fig. 3, the latch member 50 pivots outward over the square block 26 and snaps back into position due to the spring 52, in order that it may lift the bed member by hook contact 13 under the bottom edge of the square block 26.

Fig. 9 shows the parts in the half-way position between Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. It is noted that by the time the vertical bed member 2 falls to its lower position the arm 25 has moved into place to catch the round neck of the falling bed member on each side. The weight of the falling bed member upon the arm 25 will tend to accelerate the weight If, thereby storing this energy to be used on the lifting stroke of the same bed member.

"The latches on' t'he arm's 21 contact the flower edge of the square iblocks, libut the lower arms 2-5 contact the round neck cpoi-tion whioh "supports the square blocks. During the "time when thebed member is moving from "its vertioal piosition and back to the horizontal position, the pressed handkerchief will -a'd'here to the -padded bed meniber and will have "to be forcibly" pee'led off by the operator before replacing it with -a new/"handkerchief.

Whentheparts change fromithe position-shown in Fig. 3 to =that s'hown'in l ig. 2,"passing through the intermediate positions'-shbwn "in Fig. F 8, the bed'members move with accelerated :speed. The horizontal "bed member carries theihandkerchie f 'directly-against-thestationary head member with an impact and is latched in that position, that is, at the point'of' -highestpressure, and this pressure is =maintained5due to-the fact that the ball 1-? is latched in its extreme lower position and the leaf spring 12 is'held in its loaded position. When the ball i is released by means -'of the latch H the parts move fromthe position shown in Fig. '2 to the position-shown inFigid through the intermediate *positioms'hown in Fig.4), with a decelera'te'd speed, 'ju'st as a ball would move' when going from the bottom' to the top or its b'ounce. Of course, the mass of the weight 11 and the sitrengthofthe spring I 2 can be used to control the speed of these -changes. One ofithe advantages "of this system is that the changes will occur *faster -than could be tolerated in "anexpo'sed turntable type handkerchief machin In "Fig. 2 the ironing force is 'being exerted through'the leaf spring i2,-'-which forces the shaft 18 clockwise; causing a compression "in the "link '20, thereby forcingthe arm 2-] in a clockwise position-about-thepoint Z'Qand the latch '50 against the square block 26. Since it is not desired to exert a corresponding force tl .rou'gh-"the -arms25, these "arms -25 canbe made flexible. The resulting rebound, due to such flexible arms 25; will return the energy absorbed'by them. The latch 34 which is spring pressed by means of spring 14 is 'provided on each side of the machine to keep the "horizontal bed member from rebounding when the arm -25 is moved away from the rounded neck portion 35. In Fig. "3 as the'b'a'll l *1 and spring l2 move down or to the right wedge '28 is held inits lifted position by springfil which 5 tends to rotate lever 9 counter-clockwise. As shown in Fig. 2 when "the ball I! engages the latch l I the momentum forces the lever 9 clockwise, thus moving the arm -62 to --the right and permitting the 'wedge ZB-to fall until 'itagain'en- I gages or is stopped by nontactwithfthe 'arm 6'2. 'In this positionthe ball I! has-reached theextreme bottom "position and "is latched atthat'pos'ition and the spring 1 2 is applying ironing "pressure. After the ironing operation has been completed and upon release by stepping on pedal 17, lever 9 rotates clockwiseto further load or charge the'spring H2 and "finally the spring and ball are released by latch i l ,"sothaton the rip-movement,

Fig. 8, roller '31 engages lever 32 to raisethe stationary head member v secured "on the i'frame, a bed 'member- -movab1y itmounted fs'aid iirame, means:ontheiframe iforiinovingzmdzguidingx aid bed -.m'ember from ea positi'on .ior removing an ironed handkerchief and placing -.a :new lhandkerchief to be ironed to -:a :pos'iti'on "in contact with "the head member :tobi'ron i the handkerchief, and 'a leaif spri-n'g with a weight :at fone en'd m'ovably mounted in the framea't the other :end and connected and operated to ifurnish the -Iironing iorcewl'ren theheadandjbed members 'are -in contact with each other, and a latch .pivotally mounted in the frame operable to -cont'act and hold the weight in the force applying position during the ironing operation.

2. An ironing maeliine particularly iforhandkerchieis and the' fike compris'ing a 'fram'e, azsta- "tionary" head member secured on the fraine, a-be'd member movably mounted in said frame-,"means on the frame "-for moving and guiding said bed member from a position -'for removing an ironed handkerchief and placing a new handkerchief to beironed to a position in contact with the head member to iron the handkerchief, a le'afvs'spr ing vvith aweight atone =end movably mounte'd inithe fra'mea't the other end andconn-ected and ober- "ated to-furn'ish the ironing force when the hea'd "and bed members are incontact witmeahother, and "means for holding the wei ght 'in the ierce "applying-position during the ironing operation.

3. An ironing machine particularly -for h'an'd- -kerchie'fs and the file -comprising :a -f-rznicediaving guide tracks there'i-n,a stationar headamem ber secured on'the frame a pair of bedimenibers movable in said guide tracks, means operable in the frame for lifting sa'id bed menibers from a loading position to an ironing position against the head member, means operable 'in the frame for receiving --'a released bed member after its ironing operation. -and-'-returning it to thebloac l ing position after the other bed member has been 'lif-ted :to its ironing -position against the head member, and -meansfonapplying an ironing force on the bed member as-each bed meniber contacts the head member, said last mentioned means inolu'ding "a leaf spring secured at one end in the "frame 'and having a Weight 'at'the ether send to operate as a spring board to apply' the ironing pressure.

4. An ironing machine particular-"1y for handkerchiefs and thelike, comprising a framehaving guide' tracks therein, 'a stationary head -memb'er secured on the frame, a pair of bed members movable in saidguide tracks, meansoperablein the frame for' liiting "said bed members 'froma loading position to an ironing position -'a "gainst the head member, means "operable in the frame =i0r receiving a released bed member aiter'its ironing operation "and returning "ittothe loading position after the other bed "member has been lifted to its ironing position against the'head member, "means for applying an ironing-force "on the bed member "as each bed member contacts 'thehead member, said meansincluding a weight mounted on one end of a leafspri'ng in theframe and functioning 'as 'a spring board to "apply the ironing'pressure, and a "clutch latch operable in "the frame "for holding the weight in its pressure applying position.

5. An ironing machine particularly*forfhandker'chiiefs 'andthelike, comprising afr'anrchaving guide tracks therein, a stationary head member secured on the frame, a pair of bed members movable in said guide tracks, means operablein the frame for liftingsaidbed members from a loading position to an ironing position against the head member, means operable in the frame for receiving a released bed member after its ironing operation and returning it to the loading position after the other bed member has been lifted to its ironing position against the head member, means for applying an ironing force on the bed member as each bed member contacts the head member, said means including a weight mounted on one end of a leaf spring in the frame and functioning as a spring board to apply the ironing pressure, a clutch latch operable in the frame for holding the weight in its pressure applying position, and a foot pedal controlled device in the frame to release the latch.

6. An ironing machine particularly for handkerchiefs and the like, comprising a frame having guide tracks therein, a stationary head member secured on the frame, a pair of bed members movable in said guide tracks, means for lifting said bed members from a loading position to an ironing position against the head member, means for receiving a released bed member after its ironing operation and returning it to the loading position after the other bed member has been lifted to its ironing position against the head member, means for applying an ironing force on the bed member as each bed member contacts the head member, said means including a weight mounted on one end of a leaf spring and functioning as a spring board to apply the ironing pressure, a latch for holding the weight in its pressure applying position, means for movably mounting the latch to follow the downward move ment of the Weight, and clutch means adapted to secure both said latch and weight in their extreme lower positions.

7. An ironing machine according to claim 5, in which means are provided to releasably lock the pedal against release of the weight,

8. An ironing machine particularly for handkerchiefs and the like comprising a frame, a pair of relatively movable head and bed members in the frame, means operable in the frame for moving and guiding one of the members from a position for removing an ironed handkerchief and placing a new handkerchief to be ironed to a position in contact with the other member to iron the handkerchief, and a spring secured at one end in the frame and having a weight at the other end to provide the ironing force when the head and bed members are in contact with each other, and a latch member secured to the frame to hold the weight in the ironing force exerting position of the spring until the ironing step is completed and the weight released.

9. An ironing machine particularly for handkerchiefs and the like, comprising a frame having guide tracks therein, a stationary head member secured on the frame, a pair of bed members movable in said guide tracks, means for lifting said bed members from a loading position to an ironing position against the head member, means for receiving a released bed member after its ironing operation and returning it to the loading position after the other bed member has been lifted to its ironing position, against the head receiving means to simultaneously operate the lifting and receiving means, and a latch device mounted to retain and hold the weight in the position in which the leaf spring is flexed and applies the ironing pressure between the head and bed members until released.

10. An ironing machine particularly for hand kerchiefs and the like, comprising a frame having guide tracks therein, a stationary head member secured on the frame, a pair of bed members movable in said guide tracks, means for lifting said bed members from a loading position to an ironing position against the head member, means for receiving a released bed member after its ironing operation and returning it to the loading position after the other bed member has been lifted to its ironing position against the head member, means for applying an ironing force on the bed member as each bed member contacts the head member, said means including a weight mounted on one end of a leaf spring and functioning as a spring board to apply the ironing pressure, a shaft secured in the frame on which the leaf spring is rotatably mounted, means connected to the shaft and the lifting means and receiving means to simultaneously operate the lifting and receiving means, and meams operable in the frame for holding the weight in the pressure applied position between a bed member and the head member until released.

11. An ironing machine comprising a movable and a fixed garment pressing element, means to guide said movable element between a loading position and a pressing position in engagement with said fixed element, a leaf spring, means to support one end of said spring for a limited rotary movement, a weight secured to the other end of said spring, means to latch said spring in a flexed position, means to further flex said spring and then release said latch means so that said spring and weight will urge said spring supporting means to the opposite limit of its motion whereupon the spring will flex in the opposite direction and then return said weight and spring to its initial latched position, and means responsive to movement of said spring supporting means through a complete cycle to move said movable pressing element from one of said positions to the other.

12. An ironing machine comprising a movable and a fixed garment pressing element, means to guide said movable element between a loading position and a pressing position in engagement with said fixed element, a leaf spring, means to support one end of said spring for a limited rotary movement, a weight secured to the other end of said spring, means to latch said spring in a flexed position, and means connected to the support means for the first mentioned end of the spring and to the movable element at the pressing position to utilize the force of the flexed spring for the ironing pressure.

13. An ironing machine comprising a movable and a fixed garment pressing element, means to guide said movable element between a loading position and a pressing position in engagement with said fixed element, a leaf spring, means to support one end of said spring for a limited rotary movement, a Weight secured to the other end of said spring, means to latch said spring in a flexed position, means to engage the movable element to carry the latter from the loading position to the pressing position, and means connected to the support means for the first mentioned end of the spring and to the means to engage the movmp -w able element to convey the force of the flexed spring to the movable element for the ironing pressure.

14. An ironing machine comprising a movable and a fixed garment pressing element, means to guide said movable element between a loading position and a pressing position in engagement with said fixed element, a leaf spring, means to support one end of said spring for a limited rotary movement, a weight secured to the other end of said spring, means to latch said spring in a flexed position, means to engage the movable element to carry the latter from the loading position to the pressing position, means connected to the support means for the first mentioned end of the spring and to the means to engage the movable element to convey the force of the flexed spring to the movable element for the ironing pressure, and means connected to the support means for the spring to carry the movable element back to the loading position.

EDWIN E. FOSTER.

'10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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